I was hoping someone could be able to help me figure out the serial for my recently aquired 1949? f-3?
Every place i look for vin/serical decoders my plate doesnt really match up. I know the truck is 47-52 but exact is up in the air. Not even sure if its the orig. plate.
the number is F3R1CH37363
Thank you

 

If you have reason to believe your truck really is a 1949, then something is definitely wrong. The number you provided is from a 1951 F3 built in Chicago with the 239 flathead V8. Can you provide us with more details about your truck and where this number came from? Did you get a title with it?

 

Here's how Wayne's breakdown went:

F3 - 1 ton
R - 239 cu in V8 flathead
1 - 1951
CH - Chicago, IL plant
37363 - production number

EDIT: Thanks to Julie on catching my error. I must have been asleep at the keyboard.

 

I think he said it's F3R1CH37363 Ilya, so that would be an F3 - 1 Ton. You know that but just jumped on it too quick! Or you were typing in your sleep again!

Yes/no?

And your right Mav, it may not be the original plate. That format of Serial number didn't even start until late 1951. So, it certainly doesn't match a 49.

Take a picture of it from the front quarter and post it and we'll tell you what year it is.

 

well the guy that had it before me had it behind his shop for a bunch of years and being very close to chicago it would make sense. He lost the title and i filed for one but they didnt ask me for a year just a vin. He told me it was a 49. I knew it was a f2 or f3 because of the rear end and weight. Im a newbie with any truck pre 69 so thank you very much. How did you know that info? The rest of the info is
6800 max gvw, 122 wb, 90 net hp @ 3500, 3hd trans, 4.86 axle

 

something i should have added in the beginning is the front end not including the hood is missing...as well as the engine and trans. judging by the parts i found in it someone was going to put a chevy engine in it and im happy they never got around to it. I can still post a few pics if you think it would help. Thanks again everyone

 

This might help you. The link is to the FTE picture gallery. The 48-50s are almost identical, and the 51/52s are almost identical (with minor differences). Take a look and see of you can tell us if it's in the 48-50 group or the 51/52 group.

Also, just noticed your last post. Look at the back window of the cab. Is it 2 feet (about) across or 4 feet (about) across.

Also if the front is off of it look on the top frame rail in the engine compartment on the passenger side right where the shock absorber mount is. See if there is a serial number stamped into the frame there. It might be mudded over. The letters will be about 5/8 to 3/4 inch tall and faint.

1951 Ford 1, 1951 Ford F2, 1951 Ford F3 Pictures

This is the front of the 48-50 group:



This is the front of the 51/52 group (different grille):

 

Thanks for correcting me Julie. However, wasn't an F3 a heavy duty 3/4 ton and not a 1 ton. I remembered reading somewhere that F2 were 3/4 tons, F3 were heavy duty 3/4 tons and F4 were 1 ton.

 

ah thats helped. if you notice the piece in the front below the hood and above the grille witht he v8 on it. I didnt see any 49's on that site with that but the 51s do and that is sitting in the cab right now. Ha so 51 it is. unless the plate and the nose piece came from a donor.

 

where do you guys get your info? I can usually find plenty but not for this one.

1971 f100 5.9L
1951 f3
1975 Maverick
1990 Bronco II

 

That's the ONLY year from 48-52 that had that. All the other years had the word "FORD" in chrome letters on the "Upper Valance." So 51 it is and your serial number may be correct. If it's a 51 it will be stamped in the frame rail where I described.

I knew you knew that Ilya but like me sometimes you have typed these things so many times you fingers just type F1.

And on the F2/F3 difference, that could be. The GVW rating on the F2 is 1000 pounds more than the F1 and the GVW rating on the F3 is 1000 more than the F2 - so I just assumed it was a one ton. There is so much variance in the GVW ratings on the models, it's hard to tell. But the F3 is 480 pounds higher than the F2 in net capacity.

As far as getting info, many of us have some Ford Documents and books that are hard to find, and from info posted on this site. For example: here is the description page for your 51 F3 from the 1951 Truck (Salesmans) Handbook. This book is very hard to find and I know 2 of us who have one. I don't know how much Stu paid for his but I paid over $175 for mine. They are not reproduced, and I've only seen two or three for sale ever. Here's a sample of the info it contains. If you would like to see more, go to my galleries and look in the gallery marked "Salesmans Handbook":

 

The rear window is about the same size if not the same as the front.

1971 f100 5.9L
1951 f3
1975 Maverick
1990 Bronco II

 

It's 51/52 definately then. The 48-50 back window is much smaller. The V8 Chrome on the upper valance was 51 only. 48-50 and 52 all had "FORD" there spelled out in chrome letters.

 

It's another one of those fuzzy areas with these trucks. 48 Operator's manual clearly states what you posted Ilya - F2 LD 3/4 and F3 HD 3/4 ton, F4 was a 1 ton, F5 1.5 and F6 2 ton, F7 2.5 and F8 3 ton.

But by 51/52 the rating for F3 was designated as 1 ton. Did they eliminate the F4 for 51/52? Cause F5 was still 1.5 and F6 was still a 2 ton. (I have a 52 F6)

Often changes were the results of marketing/advertising rather than engineering (as with HP ratings). I don't believe the number of leaf springs changed and the axles remained the same. So who knows? Even the official publications don't have all the variants.

Another fun issue is the rear gearing in half-tons. The shop manual says 4.27 and 3.92 but as the 52 guys and gals know their trucks came with 4.27 and 3.73 gears. Misprint? or did specs change?

pbf - at least you have the synchro'd 3 spd HD trans - thats good and nearly indestructible.

 

That's probably where my confusing co mingling of facts occured.

The GVW ratings are so broad that it's almost impossible to tell from them.

For example a 51 F1 with the big tires is actually rated to carry almopst 3/4 ton of cargo. Lots of exceptions to these old trucks.

Still had F4s in 51/52.

GVW rating on the F1was 4700 ; F2 was 5700; F3 was 6800; F4 was 10,000 (truck); 14,000 for the F5 in 51.